The increased attention to student learning outcomes, student success and graduation rates continues to intensify as the demands from parents, students and government agencies on colleges and universities for accountability continues to build. Since the 1980's there has been a plethora of research on the topic of attrition, retention, student…

Undocumented Latinx students are currently one of the most disenfranchised racial/ethnic groups in the United States. As demography reaches critical mass levels in many states, visibility has triggered new economic and policy imperatives. The Latinx populations in many states have created a sense of urgency regarding socioeconomic concerns. This…

The purpose of this qualitative dissertation was to provide insight as to the experiences of Latino/a students at community colleges preparing to transfer as compared with those from Latino/a students who had already transferred. The Latino/a population is one of the fastest growing minority populations in the United States yet despite the growth…

Examining the Experiences of Latinx STEM Baccalaureates is a qualitative research study of Latinx who graduated with a bachelor's degree in an area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The purpose of this dissertation was to learn about the experiences of Latinx who have attained a STEM degree at a four-year university. This study…

Small businesses with emphasis in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are catalytic in launching the United States' global presence and competitiveness into the twenty-first century through innovation and technology. The projected growth compared to non-STEM occupations, is almost twice as high for STEM occupations which further…

Colleges and universities throughout the country have seen an influx in enrollment amongst African American women. Many of these women are characterized as non-traditional students. In addition to possessing non-traditional traits, these women occupy two oppressed groups in society; African Americans and females. Along with them being a part of…

This study explored the perception of student veterans regarding how they navigated barriers to academic success. The number of military and student veterans entering higher education continues to grow. Military education benefits provide financial support to eligible military personnel and veterans entering post-secondary education after…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and to tell the stories of low socioeconomic status (SES) men in college who persisted beyond the halfway point of college at a Midwestern metropolitan university. Prior research suggested men from low socioeconomic status backgrounds matriculated and persisted in college at the lowest…

Developmental education courses are typically defined as courses offered at postsecondary institutions below college level instruction. More than 60% of community college students are deemed non-college ready and required to enroll in non-credit bearing developmental education courses. Research shows that developmental education can be either a…

The purpose of the qualitative exploratory study was to explore the perceptions of successful first-generation (FG) community college graduates to further understand their lived experiences. Community colleges are able to serve the general public yet achieve great status in helping FG students attain their degree. The specific problem was the high…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of college students who are mothers at a large, public Midwestern research university. Using a feminist theoretical perspective, the focus of the research was to better understand how students who are mothers experience college. I sought to understand how the gendered…

California community colleges are facing serious obstacles in relation to students of color achieving academic success. African American men see the community college as a pathway toward economic and social mobility; however, collectively they have disparate outcomes in every conceivable marker of success; persistence, achievement, transfer,…

Little research has been done regarding the role of spirituality from the perceptive of self-identifying African-American emerging adult learners and how it contributes to their academic persistence, even though isolation, lack of peer support, and identity issues can decrease motivation of self-identifying African-American students. This study…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore second year college students' experiences with academic support programs and their personal academic coping strategies. The research questions were designed to collect data regarding the experiences with academic support programs of U.S. Midwest public college students who were continuously…

The proportion of Black psychologists is exceptionally small which may limit the accessibility of culturally competent mental health services for Black clients. The current project was an attempt to understand factors that help recruit, retain, and graduate Black doctoral students in psychology. This exploratory investigation probed of the lived…